Fairhaven gets money for stormwater treatment

Friday

Sep 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 26, 2008 at 12:19 AM

FAIRHAVEN — The town was awarded almost $280,000 in federal grant money to help install innovative stormwater treatment systems in North Fairhaven that could significantly reduce the pollution flowing into New Bedford Harbor, town officials announced this week.

CHARIS ANDERSON

FAIRHAVEN — The town was awarded almost $280,000 in federal grant money to help install innovative stormwater treatment systems in North Fairhaven that could significantly reduce the pollution flowing into New Bedford Harbor, town officials announced this week.

Fairhaven was one of just 11 communities across the state to receive funding through the competitive grant program, which pays for projects that will control non-regulated sources of pollution, such as nitrogen from lawn and garden fertilizers.

The systems, known as a low-impact development project, will treat the water that flows into nine pipe outfalls and more than 100 catch basins in North Fairhaven, according to William Fitzgerald, the town's public works superintendent.

The goal with this type of system is to mimic what nature does to clean water, he said.

For example, as stormwater flows through a rain garden, one of the proposed systems, the vegetation and soil blend of the garden captures pollutants, thus cleaning the water, according to the town's grant application.

The goal is to treat the polluted water as close to the source as possible, said Mr. Fitzgerald, as opposed to installing more expensive technology to clean the water where it discharges into the harbor.

"This would do a better job at more types of pollution, and it would be a natural thing and pretty much maintain itself," said Mr. Fitzgerald.

The federal grant covers 60 percent of the total project cost of the project. The town will contribute the remaining 40 percent of the project's costs through labor and other in-kind services, he said. The federal funds are scheduled to be released this fall, and once work is begun, the project should take a couple of years to complete.